Creating Self-Aware Low-Voltage Electromagnetic Coils for Incipient Insulation Degradation Monitoring for Smart Manufacturing

The degradation of key components of production equipment can have adverse effects on manufacturing, such as unexpected machine shutdown and product quality decline. Implementation of self-aware components by prognostics and health management-based cyber-physical systems is a promising technology that can address this problem. This paper developed a precursor-based prognostics method to create self-aware low-voltage electromagnetic coils for incipient insulation degradation monitoring. Electromagnetic coils are fundamental energy conversion and transformation components of a variety of machines, such as electric motors and solenoid valves, and their insulation failure can cause catastrophic effects. Conversion of sensory data to insulation health information and development of a component/cyber-interface for integrating insulation health information to cyberspace are described. This method presents opportunities for companies to develop transparency and thus predictive maintenance of machines that incorporate electromagnetic coils.